IJN and Oxford University to collaborate in research

OXFORD: The National Heart Institute (IJN) is in talks with the University of Oxford's Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research over a collaboration to expand its research works.

IJN chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Azhari Yakub said the hospital is looking forward to the collaboration to carry out research in various subspecialising areas relating to the heart and genetics.

He said IJN has held discussions with the centre's head of Clinical Trials Group and the university's research lecturer Dr Masliza Mahmod on the matter.

Dr Masliza is a leading researcher in the university in the area of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for cardiac and she would also be roped in as the visiting advisor at IJN's research department, he added.

"We look forward to have her as an advisor to push forward our research in cardiac imaging specifically as well as cardiac research," he told reporters after a visit with his team to the centre here.

"We hope that with this collaboration and her appointment, it will give more opportunities to young cardiologists, doctors and others to be involved in research, with IJN the conduit with Oxford University," he said.

Dr Masliza told newsmen that she had served at IJN as a cardiology clinical specialist in 2006 for one and a half years.

On her work at the centre here, she said she had obtained several grants totalling £10mil over the last four years to carry out clinical cardiovascular research which involved several research centres in Britain and Europe.

She encouraged more students to come forward to carry out research.

"It will be difficult initially but it takes time. I am sure there are talented people out there but they probably don't know there are such opportunities," she said.